“Thank you for buying father’s watch,” he said. “But for you, Nick Holden would have had it, and I should have been sorry for it.”
“He was badly disappointed,” said Mr. Dunbar smiling. “But I didn’t buy the watch for myself, Philip.”
“For whom, then?” asked Philip, in some surprise.
“For the one that has the best right to it—for you,” and the farmer took the watch from his pocket, and handed it to Philip.
“But I haven’t the money to pay for it, Mr. Dunbar,” said our hero.
“Then I give it to you as a present,” said Mr. Dunbar.
“I am very grateful,” said Philip; “but I ought not to accept it. You are too kind to me.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
“Besides, it wouldn’t be safe for me to take it. Squire Pope will try to get my violin away from me in order to sell it, and he would be sure to try to do the same by the watch if he found that I had it.”
“But, Philip, I don’t need the watch myself.”